Sociology in Our Times: The Essent...

If Durkheim, Marx, and Weber were engaged in a discussion about education and religion, on what topics might they agree? On what topics would they disagree?

Summary Introduction

Introduction

There are several topics on education and religion that sociologists might find themselves in agreement with and others might be subject of great debate.

Explanation

Suggested response

Karl Marx was a Conflict Theorist, Max Weber was a Symbolic Interactionist, and Emile Durkheim was a Functionalist. Despite the overall differences found in these sociological theories, there are some areas in which these theorists would tend to agree.

Let us first look at education and the area in which the theorists would agree - ineffectiveness in schools:

Marx felt that education reproduces inequality, especially when it comes to class, gender, race, and ethnicity.

Weber also felt there were some issues in education, especially when it came to self-concept. He believed that students can be affected long-term by the way they are treated in the classroom. Labeling is a large part of this. If a student receives a negative label, he or she will not perform to his/her ability and achieve future aspirations.

Durkheim might hone in on the conversation with some of the dysfunctions of education. If a rigorous curriculum is not developed, students will not be competitive in job markets.

Marx and Weber might disagree with Durkheim on the idea that schools should teach moral values and the importance of putting the needs of the groups before your own needs.